Patten, who served as governor of Hong Kong before its handover to China, has been criticized for the broadcaster's handling of the Jimmy Savile sex abuse scandal and higher-than-promised severance payouts for former top executives. He has highlighted that the BBC Trust has no powers over severance.

Patten was appointed as chairman of the BBC Trust in 2011 for a four-year term.

"It's not ideal because 2015 is likely to be a general election year, and the run-up to [the BBC's] charter renewal and new license fee negotiations," the Guardian quoted him as saying. "If anybody were to decide that a few more weeks and months would be helpful to them, then I would consider that."